Rise of the Planet of the Apes

I did watch the television episodes of the Planet of the Apes during my childhood days. I wasn't expecting much from the big screen version but it was a pleasant and refreshing experience.

The things shown in the movie about how humans treat primates and their condescending attitude strikes a chord with the audience. Caesar (played admirably by Andy Serkis) is a chimpanzee who inherits his mother's extraordinary intelligence genes attributed mainly to the research scientist Will Rodman's (James Franco) initiative to develop a cure for Alzheimer's disease.

There are quite a few unforgettable scenes in the movie. When Will sits in the restroom holding the baby chimpanzee which is wrapped in a small blanket and it clutches the finger of Will, it's one of those tender moments and you don't think it's a chimpanzee it looks just like a human baby.

The anguish on Caesar's face when he is brought to the primate detention center and his longing to get back home, the communication Caesar has with other primates at the detention center mostly the one involving the orangutan are funny and also shows their helplessness against the human captors.

James Franco as the scientist Will Rodman gives a compelling performance. Other standout characters are Charles (John Lithgow) who plays Will's father and Steven Jacobs (David Oyelowo) Will's boss and Will's colleague Robert Franklin (Tyler Labine) . Caroline Aranh (Frieda Pinto) leaves a mark.

The action scenes involving the golden gate bridge in San Francisco has been nicely choreographed.

However the audience appreciation was reserved for the central character of the movie and the cynosure of all eyes Caesar. My favorite scene in the movie was when Will's dad Charles struggles to hold a fork and Caesar takes his hand and teaches him how to hold a fork leaving Charles and Will stunned.

Ironically homo sapiens (the present day man) evolved from the Apes and now victimizes and threatens not only the apes but all the living beings on the planet.

We have to pause and think before we keep moving on the same path which will lead to disastrous consequences for not only mankind but for every living being on this beautiful planet called Earth

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